Folding mechanism



July 30, 1929. J. J. HALLIWELL FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet I mvsu-ron July 30, 1929. J. J. HALLIWELL FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 25, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet u 4 #W 2/ w W M INNR A'rfYs July 30, 1929. J. J. HALLIWELL FOLDING MECHANTSM 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 2.5, 1928 m u u l INVENTOR Patented July 30, 1929.

UNIT-no owe JOHN J. HALLIWELL, nnonAsEn, ern OF TUC'KAHQE, n w YORK; BY1v:aleceann'rA.v HALLIWELL, nxncuTnIx, or mention, New YORK, essronon'ro a; non & 00., INCL, on NEW Yonmn. Y,, oonronar o v or new roux.

ronmne MEoi'rA-msn.

er eatie fi ed la cer) 2 :1928- ri 2 1 6 I This invention relates to certain improvements in rotary folding mechanisms.

In certain folding mechanism, particularly rotary folders, the product is taken on the cylinder by suitable sheet taking devices and advanced by the cylinder to a pair of rolls, into which it is tucked by a folding blade, these rolls acting to foldolf the product from the cylinder. In such mechanisms a varia- 10 tion in the speed of the cylinder causes an irregularity in the fold produced in successive products. As, for instance, when the cylinder is starting its rotation or running at slow speed, the leading end of the sheet, that is, the 5 end taken by the sheet taking devices, is not advanced past the folding rolls by the sheet taking devices quite far enough, with the re suit that when the tucking bladeacts to fold the sheet the tail end of the sheel will lap over the head end, thus producing an irregular fold. On the other hand, if the cylinder, is being driven at high speed, the throw of the cylinder isapt to cause the sheet to be advanced too far before it is folded, with the result that the head endof the sheet laps over on the tail end, thus producing an irregular fold.

provide a rotary folding mechanismin which the point of operation of the folding blade may be adjusted withrelation to the rotation of the cylinder to. compensate for the ten dency of the sheet to passtoo farbeyond the blade when-the speed of thepress is increased, so that with proper adjustment the product will always be folded exactlyinthe centre.

A further object of the present inventionis to provide a means for supporting the folding rolls so that they will partake of the movement ofthe adjusting-mechanism forthe folding blade and so that they will always be in correct position with relation to thefolding d in or 6.

blade.

A further object of theinvention is'to pr vide an improved construction wherieby the means for effecting the adjustment of the blade and for adj usting, the folding rollswith respect to each other may abe operated while thepressis running.

u a imple an compa t arrang me tofthe pe it i o eetin thed s red func h c It is the object of the present inventionto A further object, of theinventiongisto pro are readily accessiblefor replacement or repair. Y i i With-theseandother objectsnot specifically rred t0 in new, the i ven n cen isj s i centaln novel parts, arrangements'and coin bi at en WhiQhWil he r ed in counec e Witbth ae mpe yi eid w e and h novel features pointed out in the claimsheree0 unto annexed,

i it idmw w v Figure 1 isan end view of a folding cylin- Cler, partlysectional andpartly broken away, v theview being takenon line 11 ofFigureQ looking in ,the direction of the arrow;

Figure 2is .a planvieW, partly in section w th certain parts being ,omitted, of the. mechanism shownin Figure l on the irregu- M n fiZQfI a figu n Figure 3 is a side ,view of the machanism shown in F igure 1,;the .view heing ,takenin the direction of arrow- 3 01 thatfigure.

Referring now to these drawings, the :invention has been illustrated as employed in connection with me h ni m in, which sheets are out from a web and folded. It will he n s o d,ihov ve at attheinve io i pplicable for folding out sheets supplied ,from a ys tahle s urc In ,the specific machine illustrated, 1 indicates suitable side frames for supporting the parts vof the mechanism hereinafter res ferred ,to. "In theconstruction illustrated a W b W w c i Q W rdedhy-the usualfor wardingrolls. 2,; 3,;has sheets, cut therefrom by suitahlecntting mechanism,,which is showrifas acuttingcylinder 3* provid d With a cutting k nife 5, this cylinder, cooperating with acylinder .6, which is provided with thelusualcutting woods;7. The. Bylinder 4, however, iszhalf thediameter of thecylinderfi and asheetis cutgfromthe web at each revolutionof thecylinder 4 andeachahelf revolutionofi the eyli- The cyli de 6 i a rotary foldingcylinder and is ,prov-idediwith sheet taking devices-in the form of,pi -ns-.8,;ODB set o-fwhich is shown, andwith ,rotary tucking blades, 9 whiehcooperatewithiapainoffolding ofi' ro1ls10, 11, be: tween which th product is tucked hy the tuckingblades- 9,; and whichiactto produce a transversefold intheprodnct.

In accordance with. the invention, meansare provided for operating this tucking blade and for effecting a relative movement between the tucking blade and its operating mechanism, so that the point at which the blade operates to tuck a sheet into the rolls may be varied with respect to the rotation of the cylinder, it

' being understood that the sheet is always cut at the same point on the cylinder.

After the sheet is cut from the web and the pins 8 have been withdrawn, it is free.

speed the sheet will slide over the edge of the I folding blade to someextent and cause the fold to be made nearer the trailing edge of Y the sheet. The adjusting movement of the blade with respect to the rotation of the cylinder provides means to compensate for the variation in the slip of the sheet at different press speeds and for adjustment so the fold may be made accurately in the centre of the sheet under all conditions. Furthermore, in accordance with the invention, means are F provided whereby the folding rolls may partake of this adjusting movement, so that no matter what this adjusting movement may be-the folding rolls will always be in correct relation to the folding blade.

In the particular construction illustrated there is provided a pair of annular members or rings 12, 13, which havean adjusting movement in arcuate guide members 14, 15 secured to the side frames 1- by bolts 16, as

' best shown in Figure 2. -The member 12 is provided with an internal gears 17 which engages a gear 18 by which the folding blade 9 is operated. It will be observed that by shifting the position of the gear 17 the position of the gear 18 will also be shifted and the :in the particular construction shown the point at which the tucking blade engages the rolls will be varied with respect to a sheet length cut by-the cutting mechanism. While this adjustment may be of various characters,

guide member 14 is provided with pins 19, WhlGll project through slots 20 (see Figure 1) in thegearring 12 and act to guide this gear ring when it is moved to effect an ad-, justing movement of the folder blade.

Various constructions may be employed for effecting a shifting movement of the gearing 12. In the best constructions, however, for purposes hereinafter referred to, these 1 means will also effect a similar shifting movement of the ring 13. In the specific construction illustrated the ring 12 is provided with a bracket 21, suitably secured thereto by bolts 22,..and carrying a swivel nut 23 which re ceives the threaded end of a vertical adjusting rod 24. The lower end of this rod has a bearing in a bracket 24 secured to frame 1 and carries a hub 25 to which is secured a mitre gear 26 which meshes with a mitre gear 27 on a cross shaft, 28,,this shaft, outside the frame, being provided with a hand-wheel 29,

bywhichit may be operated. Similarly, the

gear ring 12 will be given a slight rotary movement and will thus effect an adjustment in the position of the folding blade. Furthermore, it will be noted that this movement of the rings 12, 13 may be effected while the machine is operating, so that when the speed of the press is changed the folding blade may beshifted to the desired point for effecting the correct'folding of the product. Cooperating with the folding blade are the folding rolls 10, 11 before referred to. In accordance with the invention, these folding rolls are supported so that they will partake of the adjusting movement ofthe operating rings 12, 13, before referred to, these rolls moving with the rings, so that the rolls are always positioned in correct relation with the folding blade.

l Vhile the particular means for efiecting this may be varied within wide limits, in the particular construction illustrated the gear ring 12 is provided with brackets 35, 36, suitably secured to the ring by bolts 37. In these brackets are mounted the usual spring supports 38, 39, which carry hubs 40, 41 in which one end of shafts 42,43 ofthe rolls are mounted. The other end of the shafts 42, 43 of the rolls are mounted in similar hubs 44, 45 carried in supports 46, 47 supported by brackets 48, 49 bolted at 50 to the ring 13. The spring supports permit the folding rolls 10, 11 to separate, if necessary, to provide for the folding off of products of different thicknesses. With this construction it will be observed that as the rings 12, 13 are moved by the shaft 28 the folding rolls partake of this movement. so

that they in effect follow the folding blade and r are always in proper position with respect to the folding blade to form a fold in the pro-duct on its center line. mechanism for preventing under or over fold ing has been provided.

Means are provided for driving these folding rolls and in the best constructions these means will be such that the rolls may be spread apart to provide for the folding off of products of different thicknesses without effecting the meshing of the gears by which they are driven. While these means may be varied Thus a simple andeifective with an idler 57 The gear 57 is fast on a shaft 58 to which is also secured a gear 59 which meshes with a gear 60 on the left-hand folding roll 10 (see Figure 1). Likewise, the

gear 56 is fast on a shaft 61, on which is also secureda gear 62 which meshes with a gear 63 on the shaft of the right-hand folding roll 11.

In the best constructions, means are provided for effecting a separating movement of the folding rolls 10, 11, these means being such that it may be done while the machine is running and so that the same adjusting movement is given both ends of the rolls, so that the rolls will remain in parallelism. In the particular construction illustrated, the spring supports 38, 39 and 46, 47 move in ways 64 in their supporting brackets, and are simultaneously adjusted toward or away from each other by means of a screw rod 65 having right and left-hand threads. This screw rod 65 is provided at one end with a mitre gear 66 which meshes with a mitre gear 67 on a cross shaft 68, this cross shaft at its end beyond the frame being provided with a hand-wheel 69, by which the shaft may be manipulated. Similarly, the supports 46, 47 are adjusted toward and from each other and to the same eX- tent as the supports 38, 39. As shown, this is effected by a screw rod 70 having rightand left-hand threads, this screw rod at one end being provided with a mitre gear 71 which meshes with a mitre gear 72 on the shaft 68.

Both the shafts 28 and the shafts 68 may be locked in adjusted position by means of locking collars 73, 74.

With the construction shown and described and with the understanding that the sheet is severed at a fixed point during the revolution of'the folding cylinder, it will be observed that the folding blade can be adjusted as desired while the machine is running to produce a centre fold. Thus when the press is running slowly the folding blade may be timed to engage the folding rolls at a certain position relatively to the sheet length. During the rotation of the cylinder, the position of the blade can be shifted as the speed of the press is increased, and this can be done while the machine is running, so that the folding blade and the cooperating folding rolls always act to produce a centre fold in the product.

While the invention has been described and shown in its preferred form,i,tWillbe-L1:njderstood that various changes and modifications may be made in the particular mechanisms selected as illustrative of the invention and that the invention is not to be restricted to the precise mechanisms shown and described.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a folding mechanism,the combination of a folding cylinder having a tucking blade, means for operating the blade, and folding rolls cooperating with the blade and sup.- ported by the blade operating means.

2. In a folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder having a tucking blade, means for operating the blade, means for effecting a relative adjusting movement of the blade and the operating means,-and folding rolls supported to partake of the adjusting movement.

8. In a folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder having a tucking blade, a gear for operating the blade, a cooperating gear, means for adjusting the position of the latter gear, and folding rolls mounted to move with the latter gear.

4. In a folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder having a tucking blade, a gear for operating the blade, a 00- operating gear, a rotary member, a pair of folding rolls supported by the latter gear and member, and means for simultaneously moving the latter gear and member for ad justing the position of the tucking blade and the rolls.

5. In a folding'mechanism, the combination of the latter gear,.and folding rolls mounted 4 to move with the latter gear.

7. In a folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder having a tucking blade, means for operating the blade, means operable while the machine is running for effecting an adjust-ing movement of the operating means, a pair of folding rolls mounted to partake of the adjusting movement, and means operable while the machine is running for effecting a movement of the rolls toward and from each other.

8. In a folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder having a tucking blade, means for forwarding a web, means for cutting sheets from the web at a fixed point, means for operating the blade, means for efoperable While the machine is running for effecting an adjusting movement of the blade operating means to adjust the position of the blade With respect to the sheet, and folding rolls supported to partake of the adjusting movement.

10. In a folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder, a tucking blade, a gear for operating the blade, a cooperating ring gear, means for adjusting the position of the ring gear, a, ring opposite the ring gear, means for adjusting the ring, and folding rolls supported by the ring gear and ring. o

11. In a folding mechanism, the combinationof a folding cylinder, a tucking blade, a gear for operating the blade, a cooperating ring gear, an adjusting rod connected With the gear, a shaft for operating the rod, a ring opposite the ring gear, means for adjusting the ring, and a pair of folding rolls supported by the ring gear and ring.

12. In a folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder, a tucking blade, a gear for operating the blade, a cooperating ring gear, a ring opposite the ring gear, folding rolls supported by the ring gear and ring, a shaft, and connections from the shaft for simultaneously adjusting the ring gear and r111 1%. In a folding mechanism, the combine tion of a folding cylinder, a tucking blade, a gear for operating the tucking blade, a co operating ring gear, a pair of folding rolls, journals for one end of the rolls carried by the brackets, a ring opposite the ring gear, brackets carried by the ring, journals for the other end of the rolls carried by the ring brackets, and means for adjusting the position of the ring gear and ring.

l4. Ina folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder, a tucking blade, a gear for operating the tucking blade, a cooperating ring gear, brackets carried by the ring gear, a pair of folding rolls, journals for one end of the rolls carried by the brackets, a ring, brackets carried by the ring, journals for the other end of the rolls carried by the ring brackets, rods connected to the ring gear and ring, and a shaft for operating the rods. 7

15. In a folding mechanism, the combination of a folding cylinder, a tucking blade, a gear for operating the blade, a cooperating ring gear, folding rolls supported at one end by the ring gear, means for supporting the other end of the rolls, means for adjusting the position of the ring gear, and means supported from the ring gear for adjusting the rolls toward and from each other.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

MARGARET A. HALLIWELL, Ereecutm'm 0 f the E state of J 07m J. Halli well,

Deceased. 

